Castello della Motta, Medieval castle in Povoletto, Italy.
Castello della Motta is a medieval castle in Povoletto located on a ridge where two streams meet. The site features stone defensive walls and a polygonal tower that once controlled the surrounding valley.
The castle first appears in written records in 922 when Emperor Berengar I authorized a church official to reinforce its fortifications. From this point forward, the site evolved through construction and rebuilding across several centuries.
The ruins show how castles were built in this region, with stone walls and structures that developed over many centuries. You can see different building styles layered together, revealing how defenses were adapted and strengthened across different periods.
The best way to understand the history of the castle is to visit the municipal museum Villa Pitotti in Povoletto, where finds from excavations are on display. There you can see objects recovered directly from the site that reveal how people lived and worked here.
In the early 1400s, metalworking took place within the castle, as proven by the discovery of a smelting furnace and metal slag during excavations. This reveals that the fortress served not only as a military stronghold but also as a place of production.
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